Head-box construction



March 17, 1936. E. A. LELGFF HEAD BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Deo. l5, 1933 ill mywwwww,

Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE HEAD-BOX CONSTRUCTION Application December 13, 1933, Serial No. 702,181

19 Claims.

The present invention relates to a convertible slice in a paper making machine.

In a paper making machine a slurry composed of pulp and water'is highly agitated in a head box from which it flows in a thin sheet onto a traveling endless wire on which the paper sheet is felted by reason of Water draining through the wire. The means which controls the ow onto the wire is known as the slice and has many desirable forms. Onev of the common forms is known as the Voith slice, and is exemplified in the Hyde Patent No 1,898,372, in the Niks Patent No. 1,818,267 andin many others. Its common characteristic structure includes an inclined plate or lip extending forwardly from a front wall or gate of a head-box so as to form with the floor of the head-box or with the floor and the wire, or with the wire, or with an apron, a discharge crice which tapers in the direction of flow of the stock. The structure commonly found in the Voith slice consisting of such inclined plate referred to, is merely a practical means to the end that such a tapered orifice be formed.

Another type of slice commonly found on paper making machines is the so-called vertical slice in which the front wall of the head-box has or is .a vertical gate. This form of slice is characterized by absence of a tapered orifice.

These two types of sliceare the common ones. Sometimes a machine is modified by mechanical alteration which requires shutting down the machine, dismantling the front of the head-box and changing the front construction thereof. The

slice constructions are frequently supplied as removable flxtures for such changes.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a removable element which may be inserted into the head-box in association with th slice, to alter the character of or to change the operation of the slice without such removable element.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means whereby a slice structure becomes readily convertible from a vertical slice to a Voith slice and vice versa without the necessity of stopping the machine.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of removable means which may be inserted to extend the orifice of a Voith slice without mechanical alteration of the parts constituting the original Voith slice.

A particular object of the invention is the provision of a single element which may be secured inside the head-box to convert a vertical slice into a Voith slice, or to alter a given Voith slice.

(Cl. S32-44) Still another object of the invention is the provision of a single element Which may be fastened to the front wall or gate of a head-box having a vertical slice, thereby to form a Voith slice. 5

A further object of the invention is the provision of a wooden block which may be fastened inside the head-box to change the character of the slice.

Various other and ancillary objects and ad- 10 vantages of the invention will appear from the following description and explanation of the invention as exemplified by the illustrative embodiment thereof which is shown in the accompanying drawing in which: l5

Fig. 1 represents the essential parts of a machine having a vertical slice which is altered to a Voith slice by the addition of a single member.

Fig. 2 represents the essential parts of a machine having a Voith slice which has its orifice 20 extended by the addition of a single member.

In describing the invention it is not deemed necessary to state in detail the relative merits of the vertical and Voith slices. It is sufficient to recognize that both are desirable forms and 25 that changes in the use of the machines, such as speed, stock, weight of paper, quality of paper, etc., may make one slice, preferred over another. When a machine is provided in which it is a simple matter, as i`n the present invention, tochange 30 from one type of slice to another, such changes can be made, rather than omitted, and a more desirable product obtained, or better running conditions realized. It might be-stated that in many instances the delay and expense of changing over 35 a prior art iixture from one form to another, often make it practically necessary to omit the change. Thus a machine in the prior art may bel continually operated in all usages with the one fixture with which it was originally provided. 40

lIt is pointed out that many slices are adjustable vertically and horizontally. The horizontal adjustamenrl is such that the slice, either the vertical or the Voith type, may terminate over the center of the breast roll, or forwardly or rearwardly of such center. It is also common in` the prior art that some machines have an apron, usually a rubber sheet, lying on the wire and projecting to or ony either side of the treminus of the slice. Other machines have no such apron, or have an equivalent structure terminating inside the box so that part of the Wire is exposed to the stock before it is fully discharged from the head-box by way of the slice. On another feature, some machines have a oor in the headwhich is below the top of the breast roll. Inside the head-box there ls usually an agitator .means, such as an oozing roll. It is common for this'to be set both near and far from the discharge line of the slice. It is also known that sometimes the Voith slice terminates at the end of the incline, -as shownl in4 Hyde Patent No. i

1,898,372, and sometimes terminates in a short vertical or angular lip as shown in the Niks Pat y ent No. 1,818,267.,

The present invention may be used in all such types of machines with the particular advantage which is inherent in the particular resulting combination. Although I have not shown in the accompanying drawing all of these possible relations, itis to be understood that the relative positions of the numerous parts are not to be considered as fixed for the purpose of this invention, and that the drawing therefore does not limit .the whole construction to the specific relation illustrated.

In the drawing in Fig. 1 the numeral I0 illustrates a breast roll ina paper making machine, over which the forming wire I I runs as an endless belt. Numeral I2` represents headbox I2 of which a iloor portion I3 is formed on a level near the top of the breast roll. A Just above the floor I3 is an oozing roll I4 in the form of a hollow cylinder having large holes therein, to agitate the stock. A rubber strip l5 is secured to the floor I3 and is incontact with the wire II to seal the` gap. This strip may be short as indicated, or it may be extended out onto the top of the wire as an apron. i

Above the breast roll there is a vertical gate or wall I6 which forms the front of the'head-box. The wall I6 is here represented as the adjustable gate, but the adjusting construction is not shown. At the bottom of the front gate I6 there is a vertically adjustable lip or minor gate I1. A series of adjusting screws I3 is spaced along the outside of the gate I6 and carried thereby to control locally the position of the bottom edge I9 of lip I1. By` this series of ne adjustments the width of discharge slot 20 is made uniform and controllable'.

'I'he structure so far described is representative 'of a well known vertical slice,4 and in itself is not the pfresent invention. The slice described is convertibleoto a Voith slice according to the present invention by securing within the headbox across the width thereof, an element 22 lying against the vertical gate I6, and presenting an inclined surface 23. This may take the form of an inclined plate, but such structure would provide an undesirable pocket in the head-box., Consequently I provide the element in the form of a doubly tapered block, preferably of-wood, which has a top surface 24 inclined in the opposite direction tosurface 23. Thus the surface 24 forms -no levelshelf and no1 pocket, but does provide a self-draining surface for the stock.

'I'he block 22 may be secured in any suitable way, but I prefer to mount it directly on the adjustable gate I6. Thus, when positioned it has its inclined surface 23 vertically adjustable to change the height of -the tapered discharge orifice of the Voith slice. Any securing means may be employed.y I have illustrated a simple bracket 25 mounted on the block by screws 26 with a recess in the bracket to receive a bolt of the nut and bolt structure 21 carried by the gate I 6.

It is readily seen that the block may be easily inserted and removed by Workmen with little or no inconvenience. The head-box does not have to be dismantled. Consequently the machine does not need to be stopped. It may be slowed up or altered in operation to produce a lower level of stock in the head-box while a change is being made, but this can be done without breaking the continuity of the web of paper.

In Fig. 2 there isshown a machine having a slightly different structure and having a common type of Voith slice. Numeral 30 represents a breast roll, over which runs wire 3|. Floor 32 of the head-box 33 is on a level with wire 3l, and the gap between them is closed by an apron 34 secured to the floor 32 lying on the wire, and terminating behind the top center of the breast roll. In the head-box there is an oozing roll 35 located slightly rearwardly of front wall 36 of lthe head-box, so as to form a substantial space therebetween. 'I'he front wall 36 is vertically adjustable by means of a series of lift rods 31. The Wall 36 carries in pivoted relation thereto an inclined plate 38 of the Voith slice structure. Plate 38 is controlled by a series of vertical adjusting rods 33 which are independently operable to control the discharge slot. A flexible edge or lip 40 is carried by the plate 38 at its edge. In the present instance lip 40 terminates close to the top center of the breast roll and forward of the apron 34.

The structure so far described as toFig. 2 may be found more particularly described in Niks Patent No. 1,818,267. It is considered as typical of the general arrangement of elements in prior art machines, including the known adjustments above referred to. It will be noted that the Voith slices of one kind mayhave a tapered orifice which is closed at the larger end by an oozing roll or other agitating structure, as in Niks Patent No. 1,818,267. In another kind, such as that above described in Fig. 2, there is normally no such direct blocking of the larger end by an oozing roll or agitator, the same being set further away from the front wall of the head-box.- The removable element of the present invention may be employed effectively to change from one form of Voith slice to another form. This is illustrated by the insertion -of the elongated wooden block or element into the head-box 33 in such a way as to partially or substantially close the gap between the front wall 36 and the agitator 35, or in such a way as to lengthen the tapered chamber without regard to closing its larger end. The form of the block may be such that when secured so as to lie within the head-box, as by brackets to the front gate 36, its inclined surface 46 at the bottom is substantially coextensive with the inside surface of the inclined plate 38. 'I'he block 45 at its top presents a surface 41 extending inwardly and downwardly.

In the more practical applications of this invention to the most commonly used types of machines, it is desirable that the essential element which lies within the head-box present a surface extending upwardly and inwardly from the front wall. It is possible however, that a horizontaler even a downwardly extending surface could be used without departing from the formation of .a tapered discharge chamber, but such a combination will depend upon the floor construction of the head-box, whether said floor be solid or whether it be the forming wire.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an elongated block-like member which can readily be inserted and secured within the head-box of a paper machine, according to its character, either to convert a vertical slice into a Voith slice, or to change the character of the orice of a Voith slice. The invention may also be viewed las a Voith slice of a new and novel structure h'aving an element the removal of which in the form of Fig. 1 creates a vertical slice, and in the form of Fig. 2 creates an altered Voith slice.

Numerous modifications of the invention vare rcontemplated and these will naturally occur to those skilled in the art according to the particular type of machine which is available for alteration. Such changes and all the uses and modifications herein described or suggested are consideredas falling within the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim: y

1. In a paper-making machine having a headbox, the combination with the front wall of the head-box which forms lan opening for the discharge of pulp slurry, of a horizontal elongated member mounted to lie inside the head-box, said member presenting a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the opening.

2. In a paper-making machine having a headbox, the combination with the front wall of the head-box which forms an opening for the discharge of pulp slurry, of a horizontal elongated member removably mounted to lie inside the head-box, said member presenting a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the opening.

3. In a paper-making machine having a headbox, the combination with the front wall of the head-box which forms an opening for the discharge of pulp slurry, of a horizontal elongated block mounted to lie inside the head-box, said member presenting on the bottom a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the opening, and at the top a surface extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front wall.

4. In a paper-making machine having a headbox, the combination with the front wall of the head-box which forms an opening for the discharge of pulp slurry, of a horizontal elongated member mounted on the front wall to lie within the head-box, said member presenting a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the opening.

5.. In a' paper-making machine having a headbox, the combination with the front wall of the head-box which forms an opening for the discharge of pulp slurry, of a horizontal elongated block mounted on the front wall to lie within the head-box, said member presenting at the bottoma surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the opening,V and at the top a surface extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front wall.

6. In a paper-machine a head-box having a front wall vertical slice structure providing a discharge orice, and a horizontal elongated member mountecr to lie within` thev head-box, said member presentinga surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the orifice.

7. In a paper machine a head-box havingafront wall vertical slice structure providing a discharge orice, and a horizontal elongated block mounted to lie within the head box, said member presenting on the bottom a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the orifice, .and at the top a surface extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front wall.

8. In a paper machine a head-box having a front wall vertical slice structure providing a discharge orice, and a horizontal elongated member mounted on the front wall to lie within the head-box, said member presenting a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the orifice.

9. In a paper machine a head-box having a front wall vertical slice structure providing a dis-y charge orifice, and a horizontal elongated block mounted on the front wall to lie within the headbox, said member presenting on the bottom a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the orifice, and at the topa surface extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front wall.

10. A member adapted to be removably mounted within the head-box of a paper machine comprising an elongated member having relatively a vertical side for lying adjacent a vertical front wall of the head-box, and an upwardly directed surface meeting with the vertical side at an acute angle.

11. A member adapted to be removably mounted within the head-box of a paper machine comprising an elongated member having relatively a vertical side for lying adjacent a vertcal front wall of the head-box, and two relatively tapering surfaces each forming an acute angle with said vertical side.

12. In a paper machine a Voith-type of slice for the head-box comprising a front wall of a head-box forming a discharge opening beneath the front wall, and a member within the headbox presenting a surface extending inwardly and upwardly from said front wall.

13. In a paper machine a Voith-type of slice for the head-box comprising a front wall of a head-box forming a discharge opening beneath the front wall, and a member carried by the front wall within the head-box presenting a surface extending inwardly and upwardly from the said front wall.

14. In a paper machine a Voith-type of slice for the head box comprising a front wall of a head-box forming a discharge opening beneath the front wall, and a member carried by the front wall within the head-box presenting at the bottom a surface extending inwardly and upwardly from the said front wall, and at the top a surface extending downwardly and inwardly from the front wall.

15. In a paper machine a Voith-type of slice for the head-box comprising a front wall of a head-box forming a discharge opening beneath the front wall, a member within the head-box presenting a surface extending upwardly and inwardly from the front wall, and a member outside the head-box presenting a surface extending downwardly and outwardly from the front wall, the end of the front wall' and the surfaces of said two'members together forming a continuous sloping upper surface for the discharge outlet.

16. In a paper machine a Voith-type of slice for the head-box comprising a front wall of a head-box forming a discharge opening beneath the front wall, a member within the head-box presenting at the bottom a surface extending upwardly and inwardly from the front wall, and at the top a surface extending downwardly and inwardly from the front wall, and a member outside the head-box presenting a surface extending downwardly and outwardly from the front wall.

17. In a paper-making machine having a heada surface extending inwardly from the front wall, said surface forming with said oor an orifice chamber tapering in the direction of discharge.

18. In a paper-making machine having a head-box, the combination with the front wall and floor of the head-box of an elongated member mounted to lie within the head-box presenting at the bottom a. surface extending inwardly from' the front Wall, said surface forming with 10 said floor an orifice chamber tapering in the direction of discharge, said member presenting at th'e top a surface extending downwardly and inwardly from the front wall.

19. In a head-box of a paper machine the combination of means normally forming a discharge opening for said head-box, ot an element presenting a surface extending inwardly of the head-box whereby to f orm a discharge orifice chamber tapering in the direction of discharge.

ERNEST A. LELOFF. 

